Behind the scenes of 'The Odyssey': Anne Hathaway's daily helicopter rides, Matt Damon's female stunt double and more

Key Points:

• Director Christopher Nolan embraced practical effects and real-world physical challenges to authentically adapt Homer's The Odyssey, including shooting on location and subjecting cast and crew to demanding conditions.
• Matt Damon, portraying Odysseus, was physically inside the Trojan Horse prop during filming, highlighting Nolan's immersive and detail-oriented approach to capturing scenes.
• Innovative techniques included a custom IMAX camera with a soundproof blimp and a mirror system to maintain actors' eye contact during intimate scenes, as well as jet skis creating real whirlpools for visual effects.
• The cast endured a daily 45-minute uphill hike to remote Sicilian locations in full armor, while stunt performers, including women doubling for Damon and portraying sirens, executed complex and dangerous stunts.
• Practical effects dominated key sequences, such as animatronic pigs in Circe's transformation scene and stunt performers buried in sand with hidden snorkels to portray underworld spirits, minimizing CGI use.